drunkenpandaren (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
drunkenpandaren) wrote2010-07-07 01:19 am
drunkenpandaren) wrote2010-07-07 01:19 am
Entry tags:
It could Always Be Worse SPD to JF 4/?
“Tommy…”
“Mrgh.”
“Tommy wake up.”
“Mrgh… Kat…?”
“No you idiot!” THUD.
“OW! Damnit Rita!” exclaimed Tommy, holding his head.
“That’s MYSTIC MOTHER to you,” snarled the former Empress of Evil. “Get up. You and your little power puke friends are going on a trip.”
“Will it involve me losing my pants again?” asked Tommy dryly.
Mystic Mother hit him with her staff.
Kim looked out of place in her pink pajamas, but at least she didn’t look as rumpled as everyone else in the room. Tommy was nursing a bump on his head dressed in red with pink highlights across it. Trini who she hadn’t seen in AGES still wore yellow, and Jason wore nothing but red pants. Oh my.
Adam looked a little unfocused but he was yawning already. Billy looked alert as usual, possibly was pulling one of his all-nighters on Aquitar. The only people they were missing were Rocky and Aisha.
“We’re missing Rocky and Aisha,” said Trini, summing up Kim’s thoughts.
“They won’t be coming,” said Mystic Mother. “Rocky and Aisha would add too much imbalance to the spell. You know how twitchy morphin grid spells are.”
“That sucks. They’re going to hate being left behind on… whatever it is we’re doing,” said Jason.
“Why ARE we assembled?” asked Billy. “Surely it isn’t enough to kidnap us out of our timezones just for a reunion.”
“A wormhole is forming in time and space, and it’s leading back to a certain day in Angel Grove,” said Mystic Mother. “My ambitious younger self is planning on using this wormhole to temporally displace the kids as it were.”
“And you know this how?” inquired Jason.
Mystic Mother shot him a look.
“Right, shutting up.”
“Wow, look at some of this stuff,” said Tommy as he picked up a suit that was from the 1990’s. “Can you believe our sense of fashion?”
“Like Rocky’s sweater-vest,” chuckled Jason. “Oh man, look at this!” And he held up a plaid short sleeved shirt. “I think I remember WEARING this one.”
“Impressive how styles changed over the few short years,” remarked Kim as she dug in the outfits for something pink and 90’s. “Tell me again why we’re wearing stuff like this?”
“To blend in apparently, despite us all being OLD,” ribbed Adam as he found a black hooded shirt with checker designs down the front. “Really, do we have to try and blend? It’s making me feel young in a bad way.”
“It can’t be helped, Rita, er, Mystic Mother said it herself. These are clothes we used to wear and they’re saturated in grid energy,” said Trini as she affixed a headband into her black hair. “It’ll provide us with an anchor so we can go back and forth through the magic wormhole without flying apart.”
“Magic wormhole,” scoffed Billy. “I’m beginning to think whoever classified the grid phenomenon has no idea what science can be like.”
“Just like Negative Protons are huh Billy?” put in Tommy and Billy scowled. “Hey man… you could have told us that the aging effect was kicking in already. We did pass high school science.”
“I know, I’m sorry it’s still a sore point. But we all pulled through and that’s what matters, right?” said Billy.
Tommy nodded. “Lemme refer you to a good friend of mine who gets me through the days.”
“This wouldn’t be a certain someone named “Jack Daniels” would it?” replied Billy wryly.
“Hey now, I only offered Aurico alcohol once. I had no idea they couldn’t get drunk.” Defended Tommy. “Blame Carter for that.”
“Focus people. Drinking later, which will probably horrify our straight-laced younger selves,” put in Kim. “And Tommy? There’s nothing pink here for you to use so don’t even think of using Raging Heart. Unless you want to wear one of my dresses.”
“Aw damnit…”
“Here you go bro,” said Jason as he handed Tommy a pair of black pants when their teleportation stream faded. Tommy looked down and swore, taking the pants pulling them on.
“How is it that you lose your pants every time she teleports you somewhere?” inquired Trini.
“I’m going to assume she doesn’t like me,” said Tommy, struggling into the pants and grumbling as he did so.
“So when are we anyhow?” inquired Billy, adjusting his glasses.
“The day before Power Ranger Day I’m guessing,” said Kim, folding her arms. “Okay, we’ve got about twenty four hours to set up some kind of defense. Any suggestions? Cause I’m not in the mood to get my butt re-kicked on the day that could be classified as the Worst Day Ever.”
“Well it’s a long shot… but we could tell Zordon about this,” said Tommy. “He might not believe us, but at least we can mount a defense before Lokar is summoned to this world and kicks the crap out of all of us.”
“What good would that do?” inquired Billy. “The chance of being able to mount a full scale tactical assault without severely damaging the timeline would be difficult at best.”
“That’s why when we’re done, we get Mystic Mother to erase some memories, replace them with new ones and put the zords back into their hiding spots. Simple!” exclaimed Tommy.
“That’s the plan? That’s lunatic!” exclaimed Adam, aghast. “But now that I think about it, it’s probably the best option.”
“Better to break some reports now than later,” said Billy in agreement. “I’m sure Time Force is aware of our involvement during this battle.”
“At least we don’t have to do those for the TSAB too,” remarked Jason. “Imagine the paperwork we would have had for Serpentera.”
“Borrred,” said Wendi, tossing a ball up and down as she bounced it off a rafter in their cabin home.
Fate was sprawled on the couch reading while Nanoha was over for the day, making the ball bounce higher with tiny little shooting spells.
“Let’s call Alicia,” said Vivio finally as she dialed the number for Lindy’s home.
Ring Ring. Click. “You have reached the Harlaown Household. We are not here at the moment or offworld. Please leave a message.”
Vivio pouted and the girls sighed in unison.
“HEY!” exclaimed a voice from the door. “Someone get the door?”
“Yuuno-kun!” exclaimed Nanoha, scampering up and fighting Fate for the door who was only too glad to let the young man in who was carrying one of those high security briefcases again. “Did you bring something neat?”
“Did I ever. Where’s your dad Fate-chan?”
Fate pouted. “He left on a mission for Mystic Mother. He told me not to wait up if he doesn’t return before supper.”
“Ah. Well, look at this.”
Setting the briefcase on the table, he opened it and spun it around. “Like it? It’s an artifact we dug up on an alien planet.”
The group looked at it for a long moment and then Wendi stated, “Yuuno you idiot. Remember what the last artifact did?”
“I checked this myself!” protested Yuuno. “Totally safe!”
“That’s what Chrono said before he looked into the trap,” said Nanoha, paraphrasing Ghostbusters. “Remember what happened when he looked into the trap?”
Yuuno sweated. “Well… it’s safe.”
“Okay, so what does the inscription say then? And what language is it?” snorted Wendi.
“Um…Break the Bonds of Space and Time?”
A pause. And Fate gently closed the briefcase, picked it up and handed it to Yuuno. “Yuuno-kun. Destroy it.”
“With C4!” added Vivio.
Wendi frowned as she felt the hairs on her neck prickle. “Anyone feel that spike in morphin grid energy…?” she started to say when abruptly the world went pink.
“Pink, why is it pink?” exclaimed Nanoha seconds before it filled the room.
“Hello, what’s… uh oh.” Said Hayate walking into the house at that moment, followed by Rein who grabbed her master protectively.
“Does it seem to you… that it took us… far too long… to get here?” puffed Adam, groaning as he straightened up from the long hike into the mountains surrounding Angel Grove.
“It’s not just you,” groaned Jason. “At this rate, we’ll be too tired to fight this battle, let alone prevent Rita from throwing our younger selves into the future.”
“C’mon guys, it’s just up there.” The tired group stumbled up to the door and Tommy pulled at the double doors. He frowned and tugged at it again. “Won’t budge.”
“Lemme give it a go,” said Kim as she pulled harder at the door. And then after a few seconds she pounded at it. “Zordon? Alpha! Let us in!”
“I don’t think they can hear us,” said Trini as she yanked at the door and growled. “Check for a panel, maybe I can short the doors…”
“We’re missing something,” said Jason as he watched the group work and Adam sunk down to his haunches muttering about his back. “quick, what where the requirements to get into the Command Center?”
“Uh… power?” said Kim. “Jason it’s been seventeen years.”
Tommy snapped his fingers. “Power Coins!” he crowed. “We need a power coin to get in!”
A long moment passed between the group save for Trini who was hunting for a panel. “You mean… to tell me… we hiked all the way out here… and we can’t. Even. Get. Inside?” said Billy, his voice quiet and tense.
“Uh oops?”
“TOMMY!” And the normally calm and placid former Blue Ranger tried to strangle the former Team Leader.
“So this is Mid-childa,” said Vivio as the group had discovered that they had been translocated through space. “It’s very pretty.”
“Yeah, I haven’t been here in ages,” said Yuuno. “I spend all my time in Silver Hills and on digs.”
“Better than being stuck in a library or something,” said Wendi. “C’mon, let’s go find someone who can get us home.”
“The TSAB offices are just over here,” said Yuuno as he directed the group over towards the place. Entering the room, Yuuno felt all eyes land on them.
“Is it just me or is everyone staring?” asked Nanoha in a hushed voice.
“It’s not just you,” said Fate softly.
“It’s kind of creepy,” said Hayate as Rein hovered protectively over her shoulder.
Vivio clung to Yuuno’s hand.
Yuuno headed to the front desk and cleared his throat. “Excuse me ma’am, where can we inquire on booking passage home to Earth?”
“Oh sure you just…” The woman’s eyes crossed in surprise. “General Yagami?”
All eyes went to Hayate who blinked. “Um… are you talking to me?”
The woman sighed. “General, are you messing with transformation magic again? Almost gave us a heart attack.” She smiled at Reinforce Eins. “Rein-chan, you look so pretty like that!”
“Er… thank you?” said Rein, trying not to blush.
“Wait… wait wait wait,” said Nanoha, stamping her foot. “What’s going on here? Why are you calling Hayate-chan a General?”
“Because she is,” said the woman who blinked, her eyes wide. “She got you too Nanoha-san? Fate-san? Even Yuuno-kun looks small…”
“H-hey! I’m fine just the way I am!” exclaimed Yuuno.
“And…” she blinked at the kidlet Number. “Er…”
“Wendi Oliver,” said Wendi, feeling put out. “Vivio, c’mere.”
Vivio nodded and headed over.
“I’m… gonna call someone…”
The kidlets waited for a good ten minutes when finally, a pair of heels were heard on the stone tarmac as a breathless older woman ran into view. “What’s going on Hoshi-chan, why are you…?”
Eyes met eyes and little Hayate stared at big Hayate. And Big Rein looked at little Rein.
And then little Hayate exclaimed, “Big Me! When did you dye your hair?”
“I am very disappointed in the two of you,” said Zordon, the ancient wizard looking like he could die of embarrassment. “Billy, Tommy, you two shouldn’t be fighting like that.”
“Sorry Zordon,” said the two thirty-some old men who felt like they were kids standing in front of an imposing father again.
Zordon sighed. Some things changed, some things NEVER changed. “Alpha, be sure to issue them communicators. If what they say is true, then we are in the fight of our lives.”
“Zordon, I know it’s escalation but we gotta take the fight to Rita before she throws our younger selves back in time,” said Jason, trying to ignore the sniping looks Billy and Tommy were throwing at each other.
“I know Jason, and it is with a heavy heart I must agree. What did you have in mind?”
“If we can get the Shogun Megazord operational then we’ll have a fighting chance,” said Trini. “We can jury-rig it to accept different types of Power. And I doubt any of us have forgotten how to drive a zord.”
“I have,” said Adam blithely.
“No you haven’t,” chorused the others. “You’ve been messing around with Operation Overdrive’s megazord half a year ago.”
“Okay okay, I just use the “I’m Old” card all the time,” said Adam rolling his eyes.
“If anything I should be the one who forgot how to drive a zord,” said Trini. “But my memory’s still good. Though I never drove the Shogun Megazord.”
“What I’m concerned about is the posing,” said Kim. “Do I move like this or this?”
“Ah you’ll figure it out,” said Tommy. Kim stepped on his foot. Tommy swore.
“TOMMY!” boomed Zordon.
“sorry!” squeaked out Tommy.
Zordon wondered if lunacy had set into his Rangers when they got older.
“Kids.”
“Kids.”
Nanoha looked over at where her little self was humming, swaying back and forth in the waiting room chair chatting animatedly with the other girls, including a number who apparently was Fate’s adopted sister in their world. “I can’t believe I never get to raise Vivio-chan…” said Nanoha sadly.
“Nanoha-chan…” Fate wanted to give her lover a hug but their Vivio had entered the “kidlet pen” and was animatedly chatting it up with the others, gesturing wildly and gaining awed expressions from the kids, even Wendi.
“Still, seeing them together, all of us together is a blast from the past,” said Hayate and Rein nodded in agreement. “This artifact, what did Yuuno-kun call it?”
“The Mirror of Lellarap.” Said Nanoha. “It’s actually pretty simple of a puzzle, Lellarap is Parallel spelt backwards.”
“Better than say Xodarap or Gnihton.” Said Fate softly. “Er, Paradox and Nothing I meant.”
“Still, we need to get them back to their world.” Fate watched her little self tell Vivio about her adopted father, getting huge amazed looks from Vivio. “What of this Doctor Oliver she speaks of?”
“I ran a search, nothing in the Mid Database but I did run a search on Earth for famous people named Doctor Tommy or Thomas Oliver.” Said Rein. “All I got on that name was a name of a character on a television show.” And she showed the sequence of Power Rangers Dino Thunder being played. “He’s fictional.”
“… so it’s not just a time thing but an entirely different reality,” said Hayate.
“That would explain the inscription: Break the bonds of Space and Time.” Nanoha sighed. “I would have thought Yuuno-kun to stop touching things with Do Not Touch on it.”
“The Ferret is getting the couch tonight I see,” said Hayate with a smirk and Nanoha blushed.
“Setting that aside, we need to find the mirror in this world. Where did Yuuno find it?” said Fate.
“According to this, a world they designated P4X-1D2. Yuuno calls it “Jurassic Park.”
“… what’s Jurassic Park?”
“I don’t know but he said something about “Dropkicking a T-Rex in the head.” Nanoha frowned. “I don’t know if Yuuno-kun’s joking or if he’s really that different.”
“And father goes right up to Mesogog and goes “You’re in my way” and throws him into the wall!” exclaimed Fate, enacting the motion.
“Wow, is he really that strong?” asked Vivio-Prime.
“Oh yeah, dad’s plenty strong,” said Wendi. “He’s the worlds best Power Ranger.”
“What’s a Power Ranger?” asked Vivio-Prime.
“Oooh, we need to show it! Yuuno-kun!” exclaimed Nanoha. “Morph for us!”
Yuuno chuckled. “Right right.” He drew out the device at his side and brought it up. “Ready!”
[Riot 1 Standby Ready – LET’S ROCK!] roared the device, startling Sacred Heart who backed up in surprise.
“Setup Cartridge!” Yuuno jacked in a cartridge and the front flipped open. “SPD Emergency!”
In a blast of light, Yuuno was clothed in his SPD Armor. Red with a large R1 on the front in black and rimmed with white, his head was covered in a full helmet with a visor and sirens on either side as he posed. “Riot 1 SPD Red Ranger!”
The morph explosion took out a potted plant.
Vivio-Prime stared. And then threw up her arms. “THAT WAS SO COOL!”
“Yuuno-kun looks so cooooollll!” exclaimed Nanoha with a girly squeal as she watched the transformation on screen.
“He took out my favorite plant though,” pouted Hayate.
Fate patted her shoulder. “Well get you a new one.”
“Goodbye plant-chan, you’re in a better place,” said Rein, waving a little hanky.
“This is the downside to the plan,” said Billy, lying on his back as he worked on jury-rigging the Shogun Megazord. He was covered in dust and grime and was waist-deep in some kind of unidentifiable sludge. If he was ten years younger and had a few pounds off his middle this would be a comfy fit, even with the sludge that Billy quickly identified as “Spent Energon” or the approximation of it.
“Alright, give it a shot,” called out Billy, finishing his connections as he wiggled out of the space.
The zord made a noise like a engine cranking over and Billy crossed his fingers. And then the centuries-old zord roared to life as moorings strained and snapped as it broke free. “Whooo!” exclaimed Adam from the cockpit.
Scaling the ladder, Billy stumbled into the cockpit all muddy with black liquid as equally smudged Rangers grinned at him. “Nice job Billy,” said Tommy. “Nice job everyone. How much time do we have left till Lokar is released?”
“Ten hours,” said Trini checking her watch. “Enough time for a shower, meal, the sleep of the truly exhausted and we’ll be ready to blast that head into the next millennium and let Time Force deal with him.”
“Good, that lets me go over the last minute battle plans,” said Tommy.
“I thought we were going to ambush it?” asked Jason.
“We’re Rangers, we don’t ambush,” said Kim, folding her arms.
“Ambush? It’s not an ambush, it’s a Attack of Strategic Advantage,” said Adam with a wide grin.
“It’s STILL an ambush! You guys you’re going to make us look bad in front of Zordon!” exclaimed Kim, throwing up her arms.
“Logically speaking he won’t even remember this,” pointed out Billy.
“Billy you too? Traitor. Whatever happened to honor among Rangers and Mortal Enemies?” pouted Kim.
“It went out the window when some of us decided to play god with dinosaur DNA,” said Trini, and all eyes went to Tommy.
“Anton and I wanted Ranger Replacement Footsoldiers to help, so we made them.” defended Tommy.
“You probably said “ooh this looks shiny” and did it anyhow.” ribbed Adam.
“Hey!” A pause. “Yeah, you’re right.”
“This is where you’ll be staying for now,” said Fate as she opened the door to the Takamachi household. “Vivio-chan has her own room, but she’s good with sharing with the girls.”
“I’ll sleep on the couch then,” said Yuuno. “Or I could go ferret, but I haven’t done that in ages.”
“Wow, such a nice view!” exclaimed the little Vivio as she ran over to the window and stared out across the ocean. “Pretty!”
“Isn’t it? I never get tired of it,” said Vivio-Prime as she grinned and ruffled her younger selves hair.
“Fate-chan we’ll be sleeping in the same bed together,” remarked little Nanoha, causing Fate to go red. “Hmm?”
“Don’t you think that’s a little forward?” whimpered Fate.
“Alicia would laugh at you y’know,” said Wendi, teasing her sister.
Wait what?
Fate cleared her throat. “Little me, would you like to come and help me prepare a snack for everyone?”
“Hmm? Of course.”
“Alicia… so you revived her with the power of… what was it? The Morphin Grid?” said Fate as she fixed up a small plate of snacks.
The younger nodded. “Yes we did.”
“Amazing. Mother never found a way to do that for her here,” said Fate, thinking of that dark day when her mother fell into the abyss clutching the tube. “Your father must be a powerful mage to do that.”
“Oh no, he’s not powerful at all, just skilled,” said the little Fate with a soft smile. “Father is kind and gentle, like Nanoha. But he’s a skilled warrior, and a brilliant strategist. He can make the most out of any situation, and come out on top. Even now he’s on a mission for the Mystic Mother, the source of all Good Magic in the world. I know that he’s probably doing something brave and incredibly heroic.”
“AMBUSH!” exclaimed Tommy, driving the Shogun Megazord’s katana through Lokar’s head from behind.
Brave, yes. Heroic? Not really.
“You really love him, don’t you?” said Fate softly. “I know I love Oniisama and Okasama a lot.”
Fate nodded. “I can’t think of a day I wouldn’t want to be without him. He rescued me from Precia, and went to fight her for my freedom.”
“What… happened to her?”
“She’s been incarcerated with psychiatric help. Father convinced the TSAB to let Time Force take custody of them. She’s now in the year 3006 right now getting help.” Little Fate’s reply made Fate’s eyebrows shoot up into her hairline.
“3006? That’s…!” Fate struggled for words. Not even current Mid tech would allow someone to do THAT. “How?”
“Time Force. And they have a good track record with rehabbing villains. Something about a ex-mutant named Ransik.” Said Fate, shrugging. “As long as mother gets help.”
“And how’re we doing today?” asked Ransik as he folded his hands in front of himself.
“Better,” said Precia with a soft smile, a gesture so reminiscent of her daughter. “You know Ransik-kun, you don’t need to visit every day.”
“Oh but I simply must,” replied Ransik with a charming grin. “After all I am your psychiatrist.”
“So tell me something doctor. How does a villain who ran the most powerful mutant criminal organization go to a Time Force psychiatrist?”
Ransik’s lips curled into a thin smile. “Let’s just say family cured me of my madness. Let’s try a word game today. Ready?”
Precia nodded.
“Apple.”
“Orange.”
“Ranger.”
“Forest.”
“Explosion.”
“Garden.”
“Seed.”
“Jewel.”
“Alicia.”
“Fate.”
“Therein lies the rub,” said Ransik, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
“And what have you found in those moments of interplay?” asked Precia, leaning forward.
“I’m thinking that you’ve finally begun to accept what you did. What you’re capable of.” He grinned. “You’re a monster, just like I was. But just like me, you can change.”
“Fascinating,” said Precia. “I’d love to speak more, say dinner?”
“I would enjoy it. Tonight then. Now, onto other things. We have only twenty five minutes left and I’d much rather finish up this evaluation before I must step out of the prison.”
“I told you not to use Starlight Breaker Tommy. Now look at you!”
Tommy grumbled as he wore one of Kim’s dresses around his waist bunched up like a really gaudy belt. “Not. A. Word.”
“Tough. You get four: I told you so~!”
“Now I kind of get how your daughters went crazy psychobad and joined the Dark Side years later,” said Jason, bracing himself for the expected yell from both frustrated adults.
“That was not my fault it was his/her fault!” chorused the pair in unison before scowling and turning away from each other.
“Oh for gods sake Tommy, Kim. Don’t make us separate you.” Said Adam.
“We could just tie them together with fuzzy handcuffs,” suggested Trini.
“Ogod no!” protested Jason. “I have nightmares of the possible damage.”
“What? Did I obviously miss something?” inquired Billy.
“Vivio came home with fuzzy handcuffs one day she found in the playground. Tommy and I wound up handcuffed together,” said Kim with a scowl.
“It is now and forever a Noodle Incident,” said Tommy, clamming up right then and there.
“You will not believe how many mirrors have words spelt backwards in a name,” said Nanoha, walking into the house and flopping on the couch. “Where’s the kids?”
“Vivio’s room. Passed out.” Fate scooted next to Nanoha and massaged her shoulders. “What kind of mirrors?”
“Well there’s the Mirror of Erised, the Mirror of Driew, the Mirror of Reflections…” listed off Nanoha.
“Why’s the last one normal?” asked Fate.
“It’s because –crick- the mirror IS already reflected. And one so horribly perverted I nearly Starlight Breakered it… or kept it so that Hayate never gets a hold of it.” answered Nanoha.
Fate blinked. “Horribly perverted?”
“Yeah, it’s the Mirror of…” Nanoha whispered the name into Fate’s ear.
“Nocilol Slrig….” Fate abruptly terminated the translation and resolved to find brainbleach. “Ew!”
“Only Hayate could appreciate it. Maybe Shamal…” said Nanoha. “And you stopped translating before the last part was done up.”
“Maybe later…” said Fate faintly.
“But we did find the mirror. We just need to figure out the trigger to send them back home.” Said Nanoha. “We’ll tell them tomorrow.”
“Tommy.” Said Mystic Mother. “No victory jig.”
“But…”
“NO. You’re not Zack.”
Tommy scowled at that.
“Why couldn’t we get him for this anyhow?” inquired Adam, his arm in a sling.
“Tried. But he’s so drained of morphin energy it would take weeks for him to regain his old form. Good dancer though,” said Mystic Mother. “Congratulations you successfully beat the crap out of my old plans and saved the world. Again. I’d give you a medal but it’d be redundant.”
:Then why me?” inquired Trini. “Technically I should be just as drained.”
“Do you realize how fubared Aisha is right now? Staying back in time has completely drained her connection before she even got it. It was you or her, and I wasn’t going to send a cold Ranger back into the fray.”
“Nice to know you care,” said Adam honestly.
“Quiet Frog-Boy, momma’s ranting.” Adam clammed up. Nice to know the old Rita spark was there.
“Now then, just a few things before I send you back through the Wormhole. Thing the first: There’s a touch more damage done to the Shogun Megazord so when you get back, make sure to get a real mechanic looking at it. I’m looking at you Blue Boy.”
Billy rolled his eyes and got walloped by her staff. “SECOND! I didn’t erase Zordon’s memories. Before you ask, I can’t even touch him in the time warp.”
“Oh great, I knew it. We all made ourselves look like crazy maniacs in the future,” groused Kimberly. “I told you ambushing was a bad idea!”
“Well maybe Tommy. Did you SEE his face when we mentioned Tyrannodrones and Mesogog?” chortled Jason.
“Ay yi yi yi yi you defeated Serpentera by driving a motorcycle into it?” quoted Tommy in retaliation.
“Hey that was so not me; that was Cole the Rookie.” said Jason. “I just encouraged him.”
“But he was your dance partner in the fight against the generals,” said Tommy.
“Focus you two!” WHACK WHACK.
The grown men held their heads as Mystic Mother smirked as she hefted her famous circle and orb staff. “I love this thing. I’m so glad I didn’t lose it.”
“So are we done?” asked Adam carefully.
“Yes yes we’re done. Go home, get some sleep.” And she banished the group home.
“Tommy geroff you’re heavy,” groaned Kim that morning as she pushed Tommy over onto his back, the man waking with a snort.
Tommy blinked, reoriented himself and asked, “Why are we in the same bed?”
“Don’t know, don’t care, I just want to get back to lucidity before we go crazy again,” groaned Kim, sitting up as she looked over at him. “Tommy, you lost your pants again.”
“Damnit,” groaned Tommy into the pillow.
“DADDY!”
POUNCE. Tommy was tackled by an enthusiastic Wendi with Fate following at a more sedate pace. “Dad dad dad you would not believe the adventure we had! Oh hi Aunt Kim. Are you two finally together?”
The pair looked at each other. Fate hid a crossed pair of fingers.
“I don’t have pants though,” said Tommy.
Kim snickered and laughed, falling into the bed again. “I think we can deal with that.”
Tommy smiled as he held out his hands for Fate. “C’mere munchkin.”
Fate beamed and hugged her father.
“Time Force has ruled. Due to the remarkable efforts of Ransik, we hereby declare Precia Testarossa with a clean bill of health.”
The thudding of the door behind her was like a breath of fresh air as Ransik stood there with his pink haired daughter Nadira. “You’re a free woman Precia.” said Ransik with a smile. “What will you do now?”
“I’d like to stay in 3006,” said Precia with a warm smile, a truly genuine smile in years. “And perhaps… get to know you better Dr. Ransik?”
“I, well…” coughed Ransik.
“Daddy,” said Nadira with a pout. “If you don’t go out with her, I’ll be very upset.”
Ransik blinked and laughed. “Very well!” And he offered his arm to the new lady in his life.
Precia took it and smiled, linking her arm with his. “You have an amazing daughter Ransik.”
“She is a kind and giving heart, a wonderful contrast to my black one,” said Ransik in a playful tone.
Nadira beamed. She was finally going to get the mom she wanted! And didn’t Precia say something about daughters in the past?
“Mrgh.”
“Tommy wake up.”
“Mrgh… Kat…?”
“No you idiot!” THUD.
“OW! Damnit Rita!” exclaimed Tommy, holding his head.
“That’s MYSTIC MOTHER to you,” snarled the former Empress of Evil. “Get up. You and your little power puke friends are going on a trip.”
“Will it involve me losing my pants again?” asked Tommy dryly.
Mystic Mother hit him with her staff.
Kim looked out of place in her pink pajamas, but at least she didn’t look as rumpled as everyone else in the room. Tommy was nursing a bump on his head dressed in red with pink highlights across it. Trini who she hadn’t seen in AGES still wore yellow, and Jason wore nothing but red pants. Oh my.
Adam looked a little unfocused but he was yawning already. Billy looked alert as usual, possibly was pulling one of his all-nighters on Aquitar. The only people they were missing were Rocky and Aisha.
“We’re missing Rocky and Aisha,” said Trini, summing up Kim’s thoughts.
“They won’t be coming,” said Mystic Mother. “Rocky and Aisha would add too much imbalance to the spell. You know how twitchy morphin grid spells are.”
“That sucks. They’re going to hate being left behind on… whatever it is we’re doing,” said Jason.
“Why ARE we assembled?” asked Billy. “Surely it isn’t enough to kidnap us out of our timezones just for a reunion.”
“A wormhole is forming in time and space, and it’s leading back to a certain day in Angel Grove,” said Mystic Mother. “My ambitious younger self is planning on using this wormhole to temporally displace the kids as it were.”
“And you know this how?” inquired Jason.
Mystic Mother shot him a look.
“Right, shutting up.”
“Wow, look at some of this stuff,” said Tommy as he picked up a suit that was from the 1990’s. “Can you believe our sense of fashion?”
“Like Rocky’s sweater-vest,” chuckled Jason. “Oh man, look at this!” And he held up a plaid short sleeved shirt. “I think I remember WEARING this one.”
“Impressive how styles changed over the few short years,” remarked Kim as she dug in the outfits for something pink and 90’s. “Tell me again why we’re wearing stuff like this?”
“To blend in apparently, despite us all being OLD,” ribbed Adam as he found a black hooded shirt with checker designs down the front. “Really, do we have to try and blend? It’s making me feel young in a bad way.”
“It can’t be helped, Rita, er, Mystic Mother said it herself. These are clothes we used to wear and they’re saturated in grid energy,” said Trini as she affixed a headband into her black hair. “It’ll provide us with an anchor so we can go back and forth through the magic wormhole without flying apart.”
“Magic wormhole,” scoffed Billy. “I’m beginning to think whoever classified the grid phenomenon has no idea what science can be like.”
“Just like Negative Protons are huh Billy?” put in Tommy and Billy scowled. “Hey man… you could have told us that the aging effect was kicking in already. We did pass high school science.”
“I know, I’m sorry it’s still a sore point. But we all pulled through and that’s what matters, right?” said Billy.
Tommy nodded. “Lemme refer you to a good friend of mine who gets me through the days.”
“This wouldn’t be a certain someone named “Jack Daniels” would it?” replied Billy wryly.
“Hey now, I only offered Aurico alcohol once. I had no idea they couldn’t get drunk.” Defended Tommy. “Blame Carter for that.”
“Focus people. Drinking later, which will probably horrify our straight-laced younger selves,” put in Kim. “And Tommy? There’s nothing pink here for you to use so don’t even think of using Raging Heart. Unless you want to wear one of my dresses.”
“Aw damnit…”
“Here you go bro,” said Jason as he handed Tommy a pair of black pants when their teleportation stream faded. Tommy looked down and swore, taking the pants pulling them on.
“How is it that you lose your pants every time she teleports you somewhere?” inquired Trini.
“I’m going to assume she doesn’t like me,” said Tommy, struggling into the pants and grumbling as he did so.
“So when are we anyhow?” inquired Billy, adjusting his glasses.
“The day before Power Ranger Day I’m guessing,” said Kim, folding her arms. “Okay, we’ve got about twenty four hours to set up some kind of defense. Any suggestions? Cause I’m not in the mood to get my butt re-kicked on the day that could be classified as the Worst Day Ever.”
“Well it’s a long shot… but we could tell Zordon about this,” said Tommy. “He might not believe us, but at least we can mount a defense before Lokar is summoned to this world and kicks the crap out of all of us.”
“What good would that do?” inquired Billy. “The chance of being able to mount a full scale tactical assault without severely damaging the timeline would be difficult at best.”
“That’s why when we’re done, we get Mystic Mother to erase some memories, replace them with new ones and put the zords back into their hiding spots. Simple!” exclaimed Tommy.
“That’s the plan? That’s lunatic!” exclaimed Adam, aghast. “But now that I think about it, it’s probably the best option.”
“Better to break some reports now than later,” said Billy in agreement. “I’m sure Time Force is aware of our involvement during this battle.”
“At least we don’t have to do those for the TSAB too,” remarked Jason. “Imagine the paperwork we would have had for Serpentera.”
“Borrred,” said Wendi, tossing a ball up and down as she bounced it off a rafter in their cabin home.
Fate was sprawled on the couch reading while Nanoha was over for the day, making the ball bounce higher with tiny little shooting spells.
“Let’s call Alicia,” said Vivio finally as she dialed the number for Lindy’s home.
Ring Ring. Click. “You have reached the Harlaown Household. We are not here at the moment or offworld. Please leave a message.”
Vivio pouted and the girls sighed in unison.
“HEY!” exclaimed a voice from the door. “Someone get the door?”
“Yuuno-kun!” exclaimed Nanoha, scampering up and fighting Fate for the door who was only too glad to let the young man in who was carrying one of those high security briefcases again. “Did you bring something neat?”
“Did I ever. Where’s your dad Fate-chan?”
Fate pouted. “He left on a mission for Mystic Mother. He told me not to wait up if he doesn’t return before supper.”
“Ah. Well, look at this.”
Setting the briefcase on the table, he opened it and spun it around. “Like it? It’s an artifact we dug up on an alien planet.”
The group looked at it for a long moment and then Wendi stated, “Yuuno you idiot. Remember what the last artifact did?”
“I checked this myself!” protested Yuuno. “Totally safe!”
“That’s what Chrono said before he looked into the trap,” said Nanoha, paraphrasing Ghostbusters. “Remember what happened when he looked into the trap?”
Yuuno sweated. “Well… it’s safe.”
“Okay, so what does the inscription say then? And what language is it?” snorted Wendi.
“Um…Break the Bonds of Space and Time?”
A pause. And Fate gently closed the briefcase, picked it up and handed it to Yuuno. “Yuuno-kun. Destroy it.”
“With C4!” added Vivio.
Wendi frowned as she felt the hairs on her neck prickle. “Anyone feel that spike in morphin grid energy…?” she started to say when abruptly the world went pink.
“Pink, why is it pink?” exclaimed Nanoha seconds before it filled the room.
“Hello, what’s… uh oh.” Said Hayate walking into the house at that moment, followed by Rein who grabbed her master protectively.
“Does it seem to you… that it took us… far too long… to get here?” puffed Adam, groaning as he straightened up from the long hike into the mountains surrounding Angel Grove.
“It’s not just you,” groaned Jason. “At this rate, we’ll be too tired to fight this battle, let alone prevent Rita from throwing our younger selves into the future.”
“C’mon guys, it’s just up there.” The tired group stumbled up to the door and Tommy pulled at the double doors. He frowned and tugged at it again. “Won’t budge.”
“Lemme give it a go,” said Kim as she pulled harder at the door. And then after a few seconds she pounded at it. “Zordon? Alpha! Let us in!”
“I don’t think they can hear us,” said Trini as she yanked at the door and growled. “Check for a panel, maybe I can short the doors…”
“We’re missing something,” said Jason as he watched the group work and Adam sunk down to his haunches muttering about his back. “quick, what where the requirements to get into the Command Center?”
“Uh… power?” said Kim. “Jason it’s been seventeen years.”
Tommy snapped his fingers. “Power Coins!” he crowed. “We need a power coin to get in!”
A long moment passed between the group save for Trini who was hunting for a panel. “You mean… to tell me… we hiked all the way out here… and we can’t. Even. Get. Inside?” said Billy, his voice quiet and tense.
“Uh oops?”
“TOMMY!” And the normally calm and placid former Blue Ranger tried to strangle the former Team Leader.
“So this is Mid-childa,” said Vivio as the group had discovered that they had been translocated through space. “It’s very pretty.”
“Yeah, I haven’t been here in ages,” said Yuuno. “I spend all my time in Silver Hills and on digs.”
“Better than being stuck in a library or something,” said Wendi. “C’mon, let’s go find someone who can get us home.”
“The TSAB offices are just over here,” said Yuuno as he directed the group over towards the place. Entering the room, Yuuno felt all eyes land on them.
“Is it just me or is everyone staring?” asked Nanoha in a hushed voice.
“It’s not just you,” said Fate softly.
“It’s kind of creepy,” said Hayate as Rein hovered protectively over her shoulder.
Vivio clung to Yuuno’s hand.
Yuuno headed to the front desk and cleared his throat. “Excuse me ma’am, where can we inquire on booking passage home to Earth?”
“Oh sure you just…” The woman’s eyes crossed in surprise. “General Yagami?”
All eyes went to Hayate who blinked. “Um… are you talking to me?”
The woman sighed. “General, are you messing with transformation magic again? Almost gave us a heart attack.” She smiled at Reinforce Eins. “Rein-chan, you look so pretty like that!”
“Er… thank you?” said Rein, trying not to blush.
“Wait… wait wait wait,” said Nanoha, stamping her foot. “What’s going on here? Why are you calling Hayate-chan a General?”
“Because she is,” said the woman who blinked, her eyes wide. “She got you too Nanoha-san? Fate-san? Even Yuuno-kun looks small…”
“H-hey! I’m fine just the way I am!” exclaimed Yuuno.
“And…” she blinked at the kidlet Number. “Er…”
“Wendi Oliver,” said Wendi, feeling put out. “Vivio, c’mere.”
Vivio nodded and headed over.
“I’m… gonna call someone…”
The kidlets waited for a good ten minutes when finally, a pair of heels were heard on the stone tarmac as a breathless older woman ran into view. “What’s going on Hoshi-chan, why are you…?”
Eyes met eyes and little Hayate stared at big Hayate. And Big Rein looked at little Rein.
And then little Hayate exclaimed, “Big Me! When did you dye your hair?”
“I am very disappointed in the two of you,” said Zordon, the ancient wizard looking like he could die of embarrassment. “Billy, Tommy, you two shouldn’t be fighting like that.”
“Sorry Zordon,” said the two thirty-some old men who felt like they were kids standing in front of an imposing father again.
Zordon sighed. Some things changed, some things NEVER changed. “Alpha, be sure to issue them communicators. If what they say is true, then we are in the fight of our lives.”
“Zordon, I know it’s escalation but we gotta take the fight to Rita before she throws our younger selves back in time,” said Jason, trying to ignore the sniping looks Billy and Tommy were throwing at each other.
“I know Jason, and it is with a heavy heart I must agree. What did you have in mind?”
“If we can get the Shogun Megazord operational then we’ll have a fighting chance,” said Trini. “We can jury-rig it to accept different types of Power. And I doubt any of us have forgotten how to drive a zord.”
“I have,” said Adam blithely.
“No you haven’t,” chorused the others. “You’ve been messing around with Operation Overdrive’s megazord half a year ago.”
“Okay okay, I just use the “I’m Old” card all the time,” said Adam rolling his eyes.
“If anything I should be the one who forgot how to drive a zord,” said Trini. “But my memory’s still good. Though I never drove the Shogun Megazord.”
“What I’m concerned about is the posing,” said Kim. “Do I move like this or this?”
“Ah you’ll figure it out,” said Tommy. Kim stepped on his foot. Tommy swore.
“TOMMY!” boomed Zordon.
“sorry!” squeaked out Tommy.
Zordon wondered if lunacy had set into his Rangers when they got older.
“Kids.”
“Kids.”
Nanoha looked over at where her little self was humming, swaying back and forth in the waiting room chair chatting animatedly with the other girls, including a number who apparently was Fate’s adopted sister in their world. “I can’t believe I never get to raise Vivio-chan…” said Nanoha sadly.
“Nanoha-chan…” Fate wanted to give her lover a hug but their Vivio had entered the “kidlet pen” and was animatedly chatting it up with the others, gesturing wildly and gaining awed expressions from the kids, even Wendi.
“Still, seeing them together, all of us together is a blast from the past,” said Hayate and Rein nodded in agreement. “This artifact, what did Yuuno-kun call it?”
“The Mirror of Lellarap.” Said Nanoha. “It’s actually pretty simple of a puzzle, Lellarap is Parallel spelt backwards.”
“Better than say Xodarap or Gnihton.” Said Fate softly. “Er, Paradox and Nothing I meant.”
“Still, we need to get them back to their world.” Fate watched her little self tell Vivio about her adopted father, getting huge amazed looks from Vivio. “What of this Doctor Oliver she speaks of?”
“I ran a search, nothing in the Mid Database but I did run a search on Earth for famous people named Doctor Tommy or Thomas Oliver.” Said Rein. “All I got on that name was a name of a character on a television show.” And she showed the sequence of Power Rangers Dino Thunder being played. “He’s fictional.”
“… so it’s not just a time thing but an entirely different reality,” said Hayate.
“That would explain the inscription: Break the bonds of Space and Time.” Nanoha sighed. “I would have thought Yuuno-kun to stop touching things with Do Not Touch on it.”
“The Ferret is getting the couch tonight I see,” said Hayate with a smirk and Nanoha blushed.
“Setting that aside, we need to find the mirror in this world. Where did Yuuno find it?” said Fate.
“According to this, a world they designated P4X-1D2. Yuuno calls it “Jurassic Park.”
“… what’s Jurassic Park?”
“I don’t know but he said something about “Dropkicking a T-Rex in the head.” Nanoha frowned. “I don’t know if Yuuno-kun’s joking or if he’s really that different.”
“And father goes right up to Mesogog and goes “You’re in my way” and throws him into the wall!” exclaimed Fate, enacting the motion.
“Wow, is he really that strong?” asked Vivio-Prime.
“Oh yeah, dad’s plenty strong,” said Wendi. “He’s the worlds best Power Ranger.”
“What’s a Power Ranger?” asked Vivio-Prime.
“Oooh, we need to show it! Yuuno-kun!” exclaimed Nanoha. “Morph for us!”
Yuuno chuckled. “Right right.” He drew out the device at his side and brought it up. “Ready!”
[Riot 1 Standby Ready – LET’S ROCK!] roared the device, startling Sacred Heart who backed up in surprise.
“Setup Cartridge!” Yuuno jacked in a cartridge and the front flipped open. “SPD Emergency!”
In a blast of light, Yuuno was clothed in his SPD Armor. Red with a large R1 on the front in black and rimmed with white, his head was covered in a full helmet with a visor and sirens on either side as he posed. “Riot 1 SPD Red Ranger!”
The morph explosion took out a potted plant.
Vivio-Prime stared. And then threw up her arms. “THAT WAS SO COOL!”
“Yuuno-kun looks so cooooollll!” exclaimed Nanoha with a girly squeal as she watched the transformation on screen.
“He took out my favorite plant though,” pouted Hayate.
Fate patted her shoulder. “Well get you a new one.”
“Goodbye plant-chan, you’re in a better place,” said Rein, waving a little hanky.
“This is the downside to the plan,” said Billy, lying on his back as he worked on jury-rigging the Shogun Megazord. He was covered in dust and grime and was waist-deep in some kind of unidentifiable sludge. If he was ten years younger and had a few pounds off his middle this would be a comfy fit, even with the sludge that Billy quickly identified as “Spent Energon” or the approximation of it.
“Alright, give it a shot,” called out Billy, finishing his connections as he wiggled out of the space.
The zord made a noise like a engine cranking over and Billy crossed his fingers. And then the centuries-old zord roared to life as moorings strained and snapped as it broke free. “Whooo!” exclaimed Adam from the cockpit.
Scaling the ladder, Billy stumbled into the cockpit all muddy with black liquid as equally smudged Rangers grinned at him. “Nice job Billy,” said Tommy. “Nice job everyone. How much time do we have left till Lokar is released?”
“Ten hours,” said Trini checking her watch. “Enough time for a shower, meal, the sleep of the truly exhausted and we’ll be ready to blast that head into the next millennium and let Time Force deal with him.”
“Good, that lets me go over the last minute battle plans,” said Tommy.
“I thought we were going to ambush it?” asked Jason.
“We’re Rangers, we don’t ambush,” said Kim, folding her arms.
“Ambush? It’s not an ambush, it’s a Attack of Strategic Advantage,” said Adam with a wide grin.
“It’s STILL an ambush! You guys you’re going to make us look bad in front of Zordon!” exclaimed Kim, throwing up her arms.
“Logically speaking he won’t even remember this,” pointed out Billy.
“Billy you too? Traitor. Whatever happened to honor among Rangers and Mortal Enemies?” pouted Kim.
“It went out the window when some of us decided to play god with dinosaur DNA,” said Trini, and all eyes went to Tommy.
“Anton and I wanted Ranger Replacement Footsoldiers to help, so we made them.” defended Tommy.
“You probably said “ooh this looks shiny” and did it anyhow.” ribbed Adam.
“Hey!” A pause. “Yeah, you’re right.”
“This is where you’ll be staying for now,” said Fate as she opened the door to the Takamachi household. “Vivio-chan has her own room, but she’s good with sharing with the girls.”
“I’ll sleep on the couch then,” said Yuuno. “Or I could go ferret, but I haven’t done that in ages.”
“Wow, such a nice view!” exclaimed the little Vivio as she ran over to the window and stared out across the ocean. “Pretty!”
“Isn’t it? I never get tired of it,” said Vivio-Prime as she grinned and ruffled her younger selves hair.
“Fate-chan we’ll be sleeping in the same bed together,” remarked little Nanoha, causing Fate to go red. “Hmm?”
“Don’t you think that’s a little forward?” whimpered Fate.
“Alicia would laugh at you y’know,” said Wendi, teasing her sister.
Wait what?
Fate cleared her throat. “Little me, would you like to come and help me prepare a snack for everyone?”
“Hmm? Of course.”
“Alicia… so you revived her with the power of… what was it? The Morphin Grid?” said Fate as she fixed up a small plate of snacks.
The younger nodded. “Yes we did.”
“Amazing. Mother never found a way to do that for her here,” said Fate, thinking of that dark day when her mother fell into the abyss clutching the tube. “Your father must be a powerful mage to do that.”
“Oh no, he’s not powerful at all, just skilled,” said the little Fate with a soft smile. “Father is kind and gentle, like Nanoha. But he’s a skilled warrior, and a brilliant strategist. He can make the most out of any situation, and come out on top. Even now he’s on a mission for the Mystic Mother, the source of all Good Magic in the world. I know that he’s probably doing something brave and incredibly heroic.”
“AMBUSH!” exclaimed Tommy, driving the Shogun Megazord’s katana through Lokar’s head from behind.
Brave, yes. Heroic? Not really.
“You really love him, don’t you?” said Fate softly. “I know I love Oniisama and Okasama a lot.”
Fate nodded. “I can’t think of a day I wouldn’t want to be without him. He rescued me from Precia, and went to fight her for my freedom.”
“What… happened to her?”
“She’s been incarcerated with psychiatric help. Father convinced the TSAB to let Time Force take custody of them. She’s now in the year 3006 right now getting help.” Little Fate’s reply made Fate’s eyebrows shoot up into her hairline.
“3006? That’s…!” Fate struggled for words. Not even current Mid tech would allow someone to do THAT. “How?”
“Time Force. And they have a good track record with rehabbing villains. Something about a ex-mutant named Ransik.” Said Fate, shrugging. “As long as mother gets help.”
“And how’re we doing today?” asked Ransik as he folded his hands in front of himself.
“Better,” said Precia with a soft smile, a gesture so reminiscent of her daughter. “You know Ransik-kun, you don’t need to visit every day.”
“Oh but I simply must,” replied Ransik with a charming grin. “After all I am your psychiatrist.”
“So tell me something doctor. How does a villain who ran the most powerful mutant criminal organization go to a Time Force psychiatrist?”
Ransik’s lips curled into a thin smile. “Let’s just say family cured me of my madness. Let’s try a word game today. Ready?”
Precia nodded.
“Apple.”
“Orange.”
“Ranger.”
“Forest.”
“Explosion.”
“Garden.”
“Seed.”
“Jewel.”
“Alicia.”
“Fate.”
“Therein lies the rub,” said Ransik, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
“And what have you found in those moments of interplay?” asked Precia, leaning forward.
“I’m thinking that you’ve finally begun to accept what you did. What you’re capable of.” He grinned. “You’re a monster, just like I was. But just like me, you can change.”
“Fascinating,” said Precia. “I’d love to speak more, say dinner?”
“I would enjoy it. Tonight then. Now, onto other things. We have only twenty five minutes left and I’d much rather finish up this evaluation before I must step out of the prison.”
“I told you not to use Starlight Breaker Tommy. Now look at you!”
Tommy grumbled as he wore one of Kim’s dresses around his waist bunched up like a really gaudy belt. “Not. A. Word.”
“Tough. You get four: I told you so~!”
“Now I kind of get how your daughters went crazy psychobad and joined the Dark Side years later,” said Jason, bracing himself for the expected yell from both frustrated adults.
“That was not my fault it was his/her fault!” chorused the pair in unison before scowling and turning away from each other.
“Oh for gods sake Tommy, Kim. Don’t make us separate you.” Said Adam.
“We could just tie them together with fuzzy handcuffs,” suggested Trini.
“Ogod no!” protested Jason. “I have nightmares of the possible damage.”
“What? Did I obviously miss something?” inquired Billy.
“Vivio came home with fuzzy handcuffs one day she found in the playground. Tommy and I wound up handcuffed together,” said Kim with a scowl.
“It is now and forever a Noodle Incident,” said Tommy, clamming up right then and there.
“You will not believe how many mirrors have words spelt backwards in a name,” said Nanoha, walking into the house and flopping on the couch. “Where’s the kids?”
“Vivio’s room. Passed out.” Fate scooted next to Nanoha and massaged her shoulders. “What kind of mirrors?”
“Well there’s the Mirror of Erised, the Mirror of Driew, the Mirror of Reflections…” listed off Nanoha.
“Why’s the last one normal?” asked Fate.
“It’s because –crick- the mirror IS already reflected. And one so horribly perverted I nearly Starlight Breakered it… or kept it so that Hayate never gets a hold of it.” answered Nanoha.
Fate blinked. “Horribly perverted?”
“Yeah, it’s the Mirror of…” Nanoha whispered the name into Fate’s ear.
“Nocilol Slrig….” Fate abruptly terminated the translation and resolved to find brainbleach. “Ew!”
“Only Hayate could appreciate it. Maybe Shamal…” said Nanoha. “And you stopped translating before the last part was done up.”
“Maybe later…” said Fate faintly.
“But we did find the mirror. We just need to figure out the trigger to send them back home.” Said Nanoha. “We’ll tell them tomorrow.”
“Tommy.” Said Mystic Mother. “No victory jig.”
“But…”
“NO. You’re not Zack.”
Tommy scowled at that.
“Why couldn’t we get him for this anyhow?” inquired Adam, his arm in a sling.
“Tried. But he’s so drained of morphin energy it would take weeks for him to regain his old form. Good dancer though,” said Mystic Mother. “Congratulations you successfully beat the crap out of my old plans and saved the world. Again. I’d give you a medal but it’d be redundant.”
:Then why me?” inquired Trini. “Technically I should be just as drained.”
“Do you realize how fubared Aisha is right now? Staying back in time has completely drained her connection before she even got it. It was you or her, and I wasn’t going to send a cold Ranger back into the fray.”
“Nice to know you care,” said Adam honestly.
“Quiet Frog-Boy, momma’s ranting.” Adam clammed up. Nice to know the old Rita spark was there.
“Now then, just a few things before I send you back through the Wormhole. Thing the first: There’s a touch more damage done to the Shogun Megazord so when you get back, make sure to get a real mechanic looking at it. I’m looking at you Blue Boy.”
Billy rolled his eyes and got walloped by her staff. “SECOND! I didn’t erase Zordon’s memories. Before you ask, I can’t even touch him in the time warp.”
“Oh great, I knew it. We all made ourselves look like crazy maniacs in the future,” groused Kimberly. “I told you ambushing was a bad idea!”
“Well maybe Tommy. Did you SEE his face when we mentioned Tyrannodrones and Mesogog?” chortled Jason.
“Ay yi yi yi yi you defeated Serpentera by driving a motorcycle into it?” quoted Tommy in retaliation.
“Hey that was so not me; that was Cole the Rookie.” said Jason. “I just encouraged him.”
“But he was your dance partner in the fight against the generals,” said Tommy.
“Focus you two!” WHACK WHACK.
The grown men held their heads as Mystic Mother smirked as she hefted her famous circle and orb staff. “I love this thing. I’m so glad I didn’t lose it.”
“So are we done?” asked Adam carefully.
“Yes yes we’re done. Go home, get some sleep.” And she banished the group home.
“Tommy geroff you’re heavy,” groaned Kim that morning as she pushed Tommy over onto his back, the man waking with a snort.
Tommy blinked, reoriented himself and asked, “Why are we in the same bed?”
“Don’t know, don’t care, I just want to get back to lucidity before we go crazy again,” groaned Kim, sitting up as she looked over at him. “Tommy, you lost your pants again.”
“Damnit,” groaned Tommy into the pillow.
“DADDY!”
POUNCE. Tommy was tackled by an enthusiastic Wendi with Fate following at a more sedate pace. “Dad dad dad you would not believe the adventure we had! Oh hi Aunt Kim. Are you two finally together?”
The pair looked at each other. Fate hid a crossed pair of fingers.
“I don’t have pants though,” said Tommy.
Kim snickered and laughed, falling into the bed again. “I think we can deal with that.”
Tommy smiled as he held out his hands for Fate. “C’mere munchkin.”
Fate beamed and hugged her father.
“Time Force has ruled. Due to the remarkable efforts of Ransik, we hereby declare Precia Testarossa with a clean bill of health.”
The thudding of the door behind her was like a breath of fresh air as Ransik stood there with his pink haired daughter Nadira. “You’re a free woman Precia.” said Ransik with a smile. “What will you do now?”
“I’d like to stay in 3006,” said Precia with a warm smile, a truly genuine smile in years. “And perhaps… get to know you better Dr. Ransik?”
“I, well…” coughed Ransik.
“Daddy,” said Nadira with a pout. “If you don’t go out with her, I’ll be very upset.”
Ransik blinked and laughed. “Very well!” And he offered his arm to the new lady in his life.
Precia took it and smiled, linking her arm with his. “You have an amazing daughter Ransik.”
“She is a kind and giving heart, a wonderful contrast to my black one,” said Ransik in a playful tone.
Nadira beamed. She was finally going to get the mom she wanted! And didn’t Precia say something about daughters in the past?